Medical questions & health advice by board certified doctors

"Why is my mouth tingling after I've eaten an orange?"

Question

My mouth has a burning, buzzing, and tingling feeling to it. This has happened to me twice. I want to know if its something in the orange, or if I'm allergic to oranges.

Answer

Thanks for your question. There are a couple of different ways that this could be considered. First, is it something to do with the orange itself, ie, are you allergic to oranges? While this is possible, a tingling sensation in the mouth is not generally what doctors think about when people are trying to describe an allergy. Usually an allergy will have some sort of itching, swelling, etc, and may involve other body parts and even end up with a runny nose or other similar symptoms. What you are describing doesn't quite seem to add up to a normal allergy, although there can obviously be some exceptions and some different presentations. You should discuss it more with your doctor. Another idea could be that it is the acid that is in the orange that is resulting in these symptoms. Many people will have an area of irritation on their tongue, whether from chronic skin conditions, smoking, chewing tobacco, or even denture trauma. This area will often be susceptible to subtle changes in the acid content of a food. It can also be one of the early signs of a tumor, and should not be ignored if it persists. Again, please speak with your doctor.

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Zocdoc Answers is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor (in the United States) 911 immediately. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. Medical professionals who provide responses to health-related questions are intended third party beneficiaries with certain rights under Zocdoc’s Terms of Service.